Cork City go eight points clear at the top with a 1-1 draw with Wexford

Cork City 1 

Wexford 1 

IT wasn’t the return to Turner's Cross they had hoped for, as Cork City’s 100 percent home league record this season ended as they could only manage a draw against Wexford on Monday. 

In their first game at Turner's Cross since their meeting with Cobh Ramblers at the beginning of last month, City lacked tempo in their performance against Wexford and although they did threaten late in the match, they didn’t do enough overall to deserve to win the game.

Speaking of Cobh who City play next on Friday night in St Colman's Park, they had a great away win over UCD, winning 2-1 to help City increase their lead over UCD at the top of the first division table to eight points.

A lot had been made of the closure of Turner's Cross over the past month but judging from the condition of the pitch, it was the right decision. The work that has been carried out on it meant that the pitch was in perfect condition.

Tim Clancy freshened up the team by making four changes from the side that played Kerry three days earlier. 

Cian Bargary, Niall Brookwell, Nathan Wood and Darragh Crowley all came into the side with Harry Nevin, Josh Fitzpatrick, Sean Murray and Greg Bolger dropping out, with the latter suspended for the game after receiving his fifth-yellow card of the season against Kerry.

Jaden Umeh deserves a lot of credit for the opening goal of the game after the striker showed great determination to get the ball ahead of Wexford’s Carl Lennox before setting up Barry Coffey, who curled the ball into the far corner. 

Umeh was far from favourite in his battle with Lennox but showed great strength to get to the ball, and then had the calmness to lay the ball perfectly for Coffey, who showed how good a finisher he is.

Umeh almost got on the scoresheet midway through the half, but the 16-year-old failed to connect with Cian Coleman’s header across goal. 

He came close again moments later but his glanced header went wide of the mark.

Wexford had shown little intent throughout the half but managed to up their tempo in the latter stages and were rewarded for it when Kaylem Harnett placed the ball into the roof of the net giving Brad Wade little chance in the City goal. 

Harnett’s goal was the first that City have conceded at home this campaign.

Although City had the majority of possession during the half, Wexford deserved to go in level at half-time. 

The Rebel Army were too slow in possession with the majority of their play sideways across the back.

Cathal O’Sullivan almost restored City’s lead but his dipping shot was just off target. 

Although it was a good effort from O’Sullivan, the better option would have been to pass to Coffey, who was in a better position to score.

At the other end of the pitch, Darragh Levingston should have at least hit the target when he blasted his effort over the crossbar from the edge of the box.

City continued to search for their second-goal, and came close, but Umeh was unable to direct O’Sullivan’s in-swinging free-kick into the net from inside the six-yard area. 

It was a difficult chance for the City striker with the ball bouncing just in front of him as he was about to make contact.

Coleman, who had already scored three goals this campaign before this game, should have added his fourth when he found himself unmarked just outside the six-yard area but he failed to hit the target.

Cork City: Wade, Crowley, Coleman, Lyons, McLaughlin; Brookwell (Skieters 86), Coffey, O’Sullivan; Bargary (Fitzpatrick 58), Umeh, Wood (Murray 58).

Wexford: Mason; Webb, O’Malley (McHale 72), Lennon, Lynch; Boyle (McCann 64), Levingston, Harnett (Rowe 60), Hanratty, Corbally; Oluwa (Dobbs 64).

Referee: M Lynch.